pflager



V"Septfll, 1923.' 1,467,684

- H. M. PFLAGER S IX-WHEEL CAR TRUCK Filed May 26 1921 3 Sheecssheet 1 H. M. PFLAG ER Sept. ll, 1923.

WHEEL 'CAR TRUCK SIX- Filed May 26 v 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llrLllll,

Sept. 11, 1923.

H. M. PFLAGER SIX-WHEEL CAR TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 26,

Patented Sept. 11, 1923. i

UNITEDsTATES j Y1,467,684 PATENT orFIeE..

HARRY ivr. PFLAGER, erste. LoUI's'fMissoUnr, AssrGNon .To COMMONWEALTH :STEEL I COMPANY, or sT. Louis, MISSOURI, Aconroisnrron or NEW JERSEY.

Aiippiiation med Mayas, 192i. seii'ai No. 472,825.

To all whom tma/ concern:

Be it known that l, HARRY M. PFLAGER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at St y VLouis, Missouri, have invented a certain. new and useful Improvement in SiX-Vvlheeli Car Trucks, lof which the following `is a full, clear, and exact description, such as ingdrawings, forming'part of t-liis speciiical tion. l l n f y l My invention `relates generally to railway car truck construction and more par- Y ticularly to new kand improved side'franie and spring equalizer 'arrangement-s for sii; wheel trucks, and which improvements are especially design-ed to kmaterially increase the flexibility of the truck land to yieldingly Vsupport the truck frame upon the journal boxes.

The principal objects of my invention are, to form each Vside frame of the articulated truck in two parts that bear directly upon and are connected to the truck journal boxes, thereby providing side frames which have the desired degree of flexibility, and, further, to combine with veach two-piece side frame, an equalizer member .which serves vas a support for the end ofthe body bolster, and' the end vportions of said equalizer bearing upon springs that in turn bearupon the parts of the side frame, and said springs being positioned with respect to the journalboxes so as to effect an equal distribution of the loads 'imposed upon thetruck between all of the journals.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide for the equal distribution' and 'absorption' ofshocks and vibrations due to track irregularities 1 and yprevent such shocks and vibrations from being transmitted to. the car'body, thereby making the riding movement of the latter more easy and gentle.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction andA arrangementsV of parts, hereinafterlinorefully described and claimed, and` illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in wfhic-he-k Figure 1 is a top planfviejw of the side portion of afsix wheel truck r frame of my improved construction, Awith one end of the equalizing member broken away. d

Figure 2 is aside elevational viewkofa proximately on the?v line 5 six wheel truck constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 3 is' a pla-n view of a portion of the middle journal box and showing. the inner ends of the iside frame members positioned thereupon.

Figure 4c is atop plan vicw ofthe middle journal box 'of myv improved truck and showing the bearing thereon for the inner ends of the side frame members. i I Figure fis al sectional view taken ap- 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plank view of a Amodified form of the connection between the inner endsy of the side frame members and the center journal box'. l Figure 7 is an elevational view of the nioditied form of connection illustrated in Figure 6. Y

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on the lineu 8-8 of Figure 6..

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail section Y taken approximately on the line 9-9 yof Figure 2. g

' Figure 10 is a plan view of one side of a modified form of my improved' construction.

Figure 11 is a side elevational viewpartly in 'section of the same.

Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line Referring by numerals to the accompanyv ing drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10, 10 desig-v nate the ordinary wheel carrying axles of a' six wheel truck, the journals thereof having bearing in journalboxes 11. The top plates of these journal boxes are provided with slrallowcupshaped recesses 12 which serve as bearings for parts of the side vframes of the trucks, and projecting upwardly in the center of each of these bearings is a hollow circular lug1 13, the/side wall and top of which is slotted as desig nated by Min order to receive the head and shank ofabolt kutilized for connecting the side frame to the journal box as hereinafter more fully described.

Each. sideframe is formed in two parts vided in its underside and near its 'outer endv with -a recess or-pocket 16 Vwhich receives the corresponding end of Ithe outer journal bo-Xes 11.` The outer end of each side frame f member 15 terminates in ran `arm er bracket 17, the same projecting a substantial distance beyond the recess or pocket 16 and serving as a support and point of attachment for the ,CorrespendingV brake beam hanger (not shown). Suitably located cross ties such as 15 1 disposed laterally of tho truck frame connect the side frame members on one sioe or' the truck with the corresponding members on the other side. That portion of each member 15 that bears upon the outer journal box is provided with a convex undersurliace 18 which vi'its snugly Within the bearing 12 and formed in the center of this convex bearing` is a recess 10 Which accommodates the centrally arranged lug 13.

Formed through that portion of each member 15 that is irmnediatelyrabove the convex bearing 1S is an aperture 20 which receives the shanlr of al bolt 21, the head 03"; the latter being positioned in the hollow. lug 13 and the upper end of said bolt projecting a substantial distance above the top of member 15 and being secured in any suit-V able manner, preferably by means oi a Washer and lrey 22. The inner ends of each side frame member 15 or that portion which rests upon the middle journal box is provided on its underside with a halr" convex bearing 28 and the halves on the inner ends of the tWo side frame members co-operate to form practically a full bearing which rests upon the recess 12 that is formed in the top of the middle journal .box 11.

In order to permit the members 15 of each side frame to swing` in horizontal planes independently of each other upon the,

bearing' 12 on the middle journal box, the vertical faces 241 at the inner ends o said members 15 are cut away to the sides ot' the pin or bolt Which connects said side iframes to the middle journal box, thereby forming,` relatively narrow` spaces 25`Whicli gra-dually increase in Width toward the side faces of frame members 15. (See 5.)

A bolt such as 26 is utilized tor connecting` the inner ends of the side frame mem bers 15 to the middle journal box the vhead of said bolt boing positioned in the hollow lug 13 of said journal box and the shank of said bolt extending upwardly at a central point between the inner ends oit the side frame members and said bolt being secured in position in any suitable manner, preferably by means of av Washer and key or cotter pin 27. (See Fig.

By virtue of the constructions just described7 said frame members are flexibly connected to the journal boxes and at the same time they are connected so that when the truck is out from under tie car, it can be lifted bodily inasmuch as the side frames are connected to the journal boxes bv means of the bolts 21 and 2G, and said 'journal boxes carry the axlesand Wheels,

neer/sea Formed in the upper portion 01' each side frame member 15 is asubstant-ially U-sliaped pocket or recess 2S, the center or" which is located at a point substantially one-third ot the distance from the center of the outer journal box to the center of the middle journal box, and arranged in each ot these pockets or recesses 4and resting upon the side frame member is a spring or a nest of springs 29.

The body ot a rigid equalizing member 30 overlies the inner end portions of the side iframe members 15 and 'formed integral with the ends of this equalizer are spring housings 31 which receive the upper portions ot the springs 29.A Formed integral with the sides of these spring housings are depending plates or brackets 32 which co-operatewith parts of the side frame members 15 ormingthe sides'o the recesses 28 to V guide the equalizer and the side frame members 15 during' their relative vertical movements, there being sufficient clearance between the parts tok permit of lateral play or movement.' Carried bythe center of each equal izer 30 is a plate, the same serving as a support 'for a body bolster 311, which bolster is a part of the car underitrame and has a ball and socket connection at each end 1with the equalizer bars on the opposite sides of the ear. s

Where a railway car is supported by a pair of six Wheel trucks or" my improved construction, the car body and the Weight of the loads carried thereby is supported at tour points, namely, through the plates 33 that are carried upon the central portions ot the equalizing' members 30, and by virtue orf my improved construction, and particularly the arrangement of the springs 29 at points substantially one-third the-distance from the outer journal boxes to the middle journal box, the Weightof the car body and the load carried thereby is distributed equally between all of the truck journals, and at same time, the construction of the side frames and Vmeans employed t'or mounting the same upon the journaly boxes provides a construction that is sutliciently iexible to render the riding movement or the truck comparatively easy andv gentle'j and at the same time absorbingland minimizing' shocks and vibration due to track irregularities. i

In the modified constructionillustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the inner ends of the side frame members 15 overlap or extend past each other in parallel vertical planes and the undersides of these overlapping inner ends are provided with convex bearings 35 vvnich rest in the concaveV bearing on top of the middle journal box. Interposed betiveen these overlappin .ends is the upper portion of an eye-bolt 136 through Which passes a transversely disposed pin or bolt 37, the latter 'also passing through the over- 52 in which the axles 53 are mounted. j The.

vertical legs ot these stirrup projections are cof lapping innerends of the side trame members 15. y The head 38 on the lower end of the eye-bolt is positioned in the hollowr lugl that projects upwardly from the center of the bearing on the middle-journal box. (See Figure 8.) v

In'Figures 10, l1 and 12, I have shown a modified construction of my improved ar-` formed with openings 52h: in whichare arrange-d Cotter pinsbL co-operating with lugs or projections onthe upper' faces of. theprojecting bearing extensions. T he purpose 'of these cotterpinsis to prevent accidcntal. disarrangement ot the ball and socket jointsbetwcen the side yframes vandr the journal boxes. The journal boxes have extensions 52 on their upper walls between which are arranged circularly shaped guide projections 55. The purpose of this construction isfto prevent Vsidewise titlingor displacement of the 'underhung side frames of the truck. It is not intende-d in this particular construction thatthe spherical projections shall carry any portion or the load. f

The inner'ends of ther side frames of the truck are provided with convex bearing' surfaces which are designed yto be seated in the stirrup member 52a. The contiguous l'aces of these inner bearing ends are inclined so as to permit a horizontal swinging movement ofuthe side frames relative to the centrally located journal box. These radially disposed V-shaped spaces are also provided for the same purpose as indicated at 56'inFigni'elO.

57 vindicates an equalizer bar having spring caps S'prevterably formed. integral therewith and at each end thereof, these spring' caps having guiding` lugs 59 which engage the'edgres ot' a recess or opening on each truck side frame.4 The bottom Vwall is enlarged to `form a spring, seat 60 upon which aremoun'te-d equalizer barl .supporting springs 6l; Cotter pins 60L are passed through the jtruclr side' frames above the guide lugsjlto,limitlthe upward mov`ement ot the spring caps 58 in their recesses. l rIie bars 62 are Vpreferably arranged; between.r the springseats 6.0 and per- `ifnrated lugsb, the v'ends of the tie bars beinnjpivotally connected to .the Yside frames or tne truck by lnieans'of bolts 64, these tiebarshaving a su'liicient clearance at their points of connection with' the side Vtrames to permit of a limited horizontal swinging movement. f

65 indicates a concave bearing member centrallyv located with respect to the equalizer bar 57. This bearing plate evo-operates with a companion bearing plate member 66 secured to the body bolster 67,k or other part of the underframe of the car body, the king pin 68 being preferably employed to prevent accidental displacement of' the members oit this bearing 65, 66. One of these bearing members, preferably the lower, is

provided with an enlargedv opening through Y which the king pin passes so as to provide the necessary clearance required by fthe ball and socket connection between the equalizer Vbars 57 and the underframe of the car ywheel truck can be made and substituted for those herein shown 'and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a six wheel car truck, a side frame formed in two parts, each part being carried by the middlejournal box of the truck and one of the outer journal boxes, andhaving universal operative connections therewith, an equalizer member, and springs interposed between the parts of the side frame ,Y

and said equalized member.

In a six wheel car truck, a side frame formed intwo parts, each part being carried by the middle journal box of the truck and one of the outer journal boxes,'and having universal operative connections therei with, an equalizer member, and springs interposed between the parts of the side frame and saidv equalizer member, said springs being located at points on theV parts of the side framev one-third the distanceV from` the l an equalizer member, and springs interposed;

between the parts ofthe side trame and `said equalizer member, said springs bearing upon theside frame parts at points adjacent to the outer journal boxes. "4.' In a six wheel car truck, thel Combination with wheel carrying` axles and journal boxes, ot a side frame termed in two parts, each vet which bears on and has ball and socket connections with the middle journal box and one of the outer journal boxes, and a spring supported equalizer carried by said side frame parts.

5. In a six wheel car truck, the combination with wheel carryingaxles and journal boxes, of a side frame formed in two parts, each of which bears on and has universal connections with the middle journal box and one oit the outer journal boxes, springs bearing)r upon said side trame parts, and an equalizer supported by said springs.

(l. ln'a six wheel car truck, the combination with wheel carrying axles andjournal boxes, ot a side tra-me formed in two parts, each ot which bears on and has universal connections with the middle journal box and one of the outer journal boxes, springs arranged on said side trame parts at points substantially one-third the distance from the outer journal boxes toward the middle ournal box, and an equalize-r supported by said springs. Y

7. ln a six wheel car truck, a side trame formed in two parts, each of which is supported by and flexibly connected to the iniddle journal box and one ot the outer journal boxes, and a spring supported equalizer carried by the parts ot said side trame.

8. In a six wheel car truck, a side frame formed in twoparts, each of which is supported by and flexibly connected to the middle journal box and. one ot the outer journal boxes, springs bearing upon the parts of the side frame at points adjacent to the outer journal boxes, and an equalizer supported by said springs.

9. In a six wheel car truck, the combination with wheel carrying axles and journal boxes. of a side frame member supported by and flexibly connected to each outer journal box and theI middle journal box, and a springr supported equalizer carried by the pair of side frame members.

10. In a six wheel car truck, the combination with wheel carrying,r axles and journal boxes, ot a side frame member supported by and flexibly connected to each outer journal box and the middle journal box, a spring positioned on each side trame member, and an equalizer supported by said springs. the

' latter being located at points substantially one-third the distance from the outer jour nal boxes toward the middle journal box.

11. ln a six Wheel car truck, the combination with Wheel carrying axles and journal means integral with said side 'frame .parts for supporting parts o t' the brake gear.

12. rlhe combination with a pair ot six wheel trucks, ot a car body supported at four points on said truck, and means including` articulated side frames flexibly connected to the journal boxes for eliecting an equal distribution ot' the weight ot the car body and load carried thereby between all of the journals ot said trucks.

13. The combination with a pair of six wheel car trucks, ot a ear body supported at two different points on each truck, and means including articulated side trames flexibly connected 'to the journal boxes for eecting an equal distribution of the weight ot said car body and load carried thereby between all ot the journals on said trucks.

14. The Combination with a six wheel car truck, ot' means for supporting,` a car body at two points on said truck, and means including articulated side trames, the members ot' each side trame being adapted to move in a horizontal plane independently of each other and of the corresponding journal boxes for effecting' an equal distribution ot the weight of said car body and load carried thereby between all ot the journals or' said trucks.

15. A. six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying` axles and journal boxes, and articulated sidetrames having pivotal relation to each end of their respective journal boxes.

16. A six wheel car truck comprising' Wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, articulated side frames each member of which has ball and socket connections with said journal boxes, and equalizer bars.

17. A six wheel ear truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, articulated side frames, ball and socket connections between each member of said side frames and said journal boxes, and

`means tor preventing accidental displacement of said ball and socket connections.

18. A six wheel car truck having wheel carrying' axles and journal boxes, truck side frames having pivotal connections with said journal boxes., and tie bars tor pivotally connectingl said truck side frames together.

19. A six wheel ear truck comprising wheel carrying' axles and journal boxes, articulated truck side Jframes having; lateral and vertical pivotal relation to said journal boxes, and equalizer bars supported by said truck side frames and having horizontal and vertical movements independently of said truck side'trames.

20. A six wheel carV truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, articulated truck sideframes having-pivotal relation to said journal boxes, equalizer bars supported by said truck side trames and having horizontal and'Y vertical moveframes,

ments independently of said truck side frames, and tie bars pivotally connecting opposite side kframes together.

2l. A six wheel car truck comprising" wheel carrying axles' and journal b-oxes, ar-

being connected to said truck side frames at points approximately in a vertical plane I with the supporting points of the equalizer bars.

22. A six' rwheel car truck` comprising` wheel rcari-ying axles and journal boxes,

"l socket carried by said journal boxes having sockets and truck side frames having convex surfaces dey signed to be received by the journal box sockets at their outer ends, the inner ends of said truck side frames being seated in a the centrally located journal box.

23. A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying` axles and journal boxes, saidk y journal boxeshaving sockets and truck side frames having convex surfaces designed to be received by the journal box socketsat their outer ends, the inner ends of said truck side frames being Vseated in a socket common to the contiguous ends of said truck side frames carried by the centrally located journal boxes.

24. A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and vjournal boxes, side frames having ball and socket connections with saidjournal boxes, the ball and socket connections and the contiguous ends of the side frames over the centrally located journal boxes being divided.

25. A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, side frames having ball and socket connectio-ns with said journal boxes, the ball and socket connections and the contiguous ends of the side frames over the centrally located journal boxes being vertically divided.

26. A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, articulated side frames having ball and socket l connections with said journal boxes, andk means for -connecting the side frames to the journal boxes in vertical planes with the axles. whereby the journal boxes may be lifted with the side fra-mes.`

27. A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, articulated side frames the members of which have ball and socket connections. with said journal boxes,I means for preventing accidental disarrangement of said' ball andi socket connections, and equalizer bars yieldinglyr supportedby said side frames.

. 28. kA six wheel -car truck comprising `wheelcarrying axles and journal boxes', and

underhung j side frames havingy universal connections with said journal boxes. j

2,9. A six Wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, and` underhung side'frames having pivotalfconneet-ions `with said journal boxes.

80. A six wheel y car truck ,comprising wheel cariyingaxles and journal boxes, and

underhung side framesv `having ball and socketv connections with said journal boxes.

'31, A six wheel car truckr "comprising wiieel carrying axles and journal boxes, said journal boxes .having depending stirru'ps and side frames supported insaid stirrups.

82. A six wheel` Ycar truck comprising wheel carrying axles and `journal boxes having socket sti 1rups, and side frames mounted for universal movement in the sockets in said stirrups.

A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, and side frames in pivotal engagement with said journal boxes above and below the top and bottom walls thereof.

34.*A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and ournal boxes, and underhung side frames having engagement with the upper portions of said journal boxes to prevent tilting or canting Inoveinent of said side frames.

85. A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes and underhung side frames` said side frames being centrally divided, their contiguous ends engaging the middle journal box above and below the top and bottoni Walls thereof.

36. A six wheel car truck comprising wheel carrying axles and journal boxes provided with socket bearings, side frames having 'spherical faces designed to be seated in sai-d sockets, and means for retaining the spherical faces of said side frames in position in said socket bearings.

37. The combination with a journal box having a socket bearing, side frames whose contiguous ends are provided with spherical surfaces seated in said socket, and means for holding the contiguous ends of the si-de frames in position in the socket. j

88. A journal box having a downwardly extending stirrup provided with a socket bearing, and upwardly extending guide members`v said stirrup and guid-e members being adapted to cooperate with the side frame. f

39. A journal box having a downwardly extending stirriip and upwardly extending guide lugs, both adapted to cooperate with a truck side frame, and means for retaining the truck side frame in position on the stirrup.

40. A truck side frame having upwardly openingvrecesses and a spring seat at the bottom thereof, in combination with 'an equalizer bar yieldingly supported upon said spring seat, and means for holding the end of the equalizer barl in the spring seat.

4l. A truclrjside frame having upwardly opening,r recesses and a spring seat at the bottom thereof, in combination with an equalizer bar. yieldinc'ly supported upon said springseat, and meansV for preventing the withdrawal o1 the end of the equalizer bar in an upward direction out of said recess. L12. A truck side frame having an outwardly opening recess whose bottoni wall is in the 'orinL of a spring` seat, and a tie bar pivotally connected to the side ranie beneath said spring seat. Y

43. A truck side frame having an outwardly opening,` recess whose bottoni wall is in the forni of a spring seat, and an equalizer bar having spring caps at each end and guiding lugs on said caps.

An equalizing bar arranged above the side frame of a truck and provided at each end with downwardly presented spring seats which are adapted to engage springs carried by said side fraine, said equalizing bar Laer/,esa

havinfy ball and socket connection with the underiraine of the car.

45. An equalizer bar in combination with the underraine of a car, and a ball and socket connection betweenV the two, said equalizer bar being adapted to be arranged above the side frame of a truck and having downwardly presentedy spring seats at its ends adapted'to engage the springs carried by tlieside france of said truck.

d6. An equalizer bar in combination with the underfraine of a car, a ball and socket vconnection between the two, and a king pin 'passing through said ball and socket connection.

M. A six wheel car truck comprising,` wheel carrying axles and journal boxes, articulated raines carried by and having flexible connections with said journal boxes, equalizei` bars yieldingly supported by said side frames, a car underfraine, and a pivotal connection between said car underfranie and said equalizer bar.

ln testimony whereof' hereunto aliif; my signature this 21st day of lvlay, 1921.

HARRY M. PFLAGER. 

